Mixologist: Blaise Antonio of Donerick's

"We recently redid the bar and added some more TVs to try and draw more of a sports crowd. But we don't want to focus strictly on sports, because we want everyone to feel comfortable coming in."

Neighborhood: Grandview

Hometown: Columbus

Years behind the bar: 7

What is the crowd like here?

It's a mixed crowd of anything from 21-year-olds to 60-year-olds. It's mostly local people who live or work in the area.

We recently redid the bar and added some more TVs to try and draw more of a sports crowd. But we don't want to focus strictly on sports, because we want everyone to feel comfortable coming in.

What do you like to do when you're not at work?

I play golf in the summer. I grew up playing at Riviera, so I try and play there as much as I can. But I'll play wherever.

What do think of the Tiger situation?

His comeback was inevitable. But I lost a lot of respect for him because he apologized to the public for something that occurred in his private life. It was more for endorsements.

What do you like about bartending?

It's probably the same things I don't like about bartending: You deal with a lot of different people. You want to accommodate them as best you can, but sometimes it's impossible.

You'll see the same faces every day, which is both good and bad. New faces every day, which is mostly good, some bad. Every day is something new, so you never know what to expect. It's a double-edged sword.

Do you have any bartending pet peeves?

People hitting the bar or yelling, "Hey, hey, hey." I see you. I'm being patient with the customers, try to be patient with the staff. It goes both ways. Where do you work where that's acceptable?

What do you drink?

I like vodka on the rocks. I like to keep it simple. I prefer Ketel One.

Where do you go to grab a drink?

I try to keep it local in Grandview, a little closer to home. I've been going to Meister's Bar since they opened. I try to come in here on occasion, but sometimes it just feels too much like work.

What are people drinking here?

This is pretty much a beer-and-a-shot crowd - nothing too fancy. Our bar staff is experienced and creative enough to put something together, but people are mostly ordering the basics.

Is there a Columbus bartender you'd like to meet in Mixologist? E-mail jtigges@columbusalive.com